Who wants to think about budgets during the summer? Especially now that the weather has finally taken a turn for the better. Time to enjoy summer fun, weekends away, holidays, bbq’s, weddings and parties. The trick is to put enough in your budget to cover the bills so you can skip into the fall with […]

The short answer is anything between a few hundred (think City Hall, you and your spouse-to-be and a bouquet) and tens of thousands. The range is huge and the costs are driven by the number of guests and your vision. Here are some examples of typical wedding expenses: Meal & Drinks: $100 per person ($50 […]

Congratulations if this is you! It doesn’t take long to switch your thoughts to wedding planning. There are a lot of hats to wear when arranging the big day and it can get a little overwhelming…..project manager, PR representative and psychologist to name a few. Weddings are big business and it doesn’t take long to […]

Keeping within budget can be tricky and is an art. Here are some ideas: Food Cost – One of the highest monthly expenses. Minimize waste with a plan, reduce the number of times you purchase meals out with a menu plan and leftovers for lunch. • Plan a weekly menu • Include meals for dinner […]

It’s a simple question, but there isn’t always a  simple answer. It really depends on 2 things: How much of a down payment do you have? What mortgage payments can you afford? A bank will use additional criteria to evaluate whether they will lend you money to buy a home including calculating your net worth, checking your […]

Most of us face a cash crunch every now and again and this can cause anxiety. Many of us receive a steady pay check however those who don’t have a stable source of income often wonder whether there will be enough in the account to pay the bills at the end of the month. Cash […]

The key to cash flow is knowing what’s coming in and what’s going out! For many of us, what’s coming in is fairly steady. We’ll take a look at managing cash flow for self-employed, contract or part time income next time. That leaves us with what’s going out … expenses. The most important piece of […]

Why isn’t there enough money in the bank account at the end of the month? In today’s age of debit and credit cards, it’s easy to access money to pay for things. When cash was it, there were either dollars in your wallet or not! This means that it is doubly important to have a […]

How do you live on a tight budget? A tight budget means there isn’t much to spare at the end of the month. Expenses may equal or be very close to household income. There are varying degrees of a tight budget. Necessary expenses take up the majority of or all of your disposable income You […]

If I have a budget, why do I need a financial plan? This is a common question.